On February 2, 2017, California Assemblymember Jim Wood (D-Healdsburg), introduced AB 275 that would provide certain protections to residents of skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) when those facilities have a change in license status or operation, such as closure.

Among other changes, AB 275 requires facilities to provide 90 days’ notice to residents and, if resident’s concerns cannot be appropriately addressed, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) can extend this period for another 90 days. The bill requires a resident assessment by both a physician and mental health professional and gives CDPH the authority to require a resident transfer plan to assure that residents’ needs have been considered. Last, whenever two or more SNFs propose to close on the same date, the SNFs will be required to prepare a comprehensive community impact report.

Read the text of the bill here: http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=201720180AB275.